The “Al-Naim Wad Hamad Granary”: A Sudanese Initiative to Combat Hunger in War Zones

Al-Gezira State – Sudanhorizon
The initiative “Al-Naim Wad Hamad Granary” was launched to provide grain supplies to impoverished families in areas besieged by the Rapid Support Forces, who are suffering from hunger and high prices.
The initiative draws inspiration from the legacy of the late Al-Naim Wad Hamad in generosity, selflessness, and chivalry, as well as in providing sustenance for those in need. He lived early in the last century and established the village of “Tayyibat Al-Naim” in the Kamilin locality, south of Khartoum. His virtues were celebrated by the late artist Khalaf Allah Hamad in the famous folk song “O You Who Revived the Traditions of the Baramakah.”
The initiative’s founders told the “Sudanhorizon” news site that they launched it in Al-Gezira State due to the siege imposed on villages and towns in the state and the halt of agricultural activities, which has led to shortages and rising prices of goods, nearly causing famine.
They confirmed that the “Al-Naim Wad Hamad Granary” initiative has achieved significant success and popular engagement, and it will be available to all Sudanese affected by the war. Everyone who wishes to do good can contribute whatever they have beyond their needs, and it is symbolic rather than just a hole that is affected by changing weather conditions.
According to the field team, the initiative has managed to reach the village of Wad Al-Nurah in southern Al-Gezira, where the rebellious Rapid Support Forces militia committed a bloody massacre, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of men, women, and children. The initiative provided a food basket to some families as a first step, as the village suffers from shortages and high prices, having not received the required assistance or relief convoys, and it survives solely through the efforts of its expatriates.
Despite logistical difficulties and the disruption of internet and communication networks in Al-Gezira State, the initiative successfully reached more than seven areas. It opened granaries to provide various types of assistance, including corn, wheat, ready-made flour, and direct financial support. The initiative also aims to reopen offices closed due to the war or abandoned by their residents due to displacement.
For centuries, granaries have been a hallmark of social solidarity and noble intentions in Sudan. They are underground pits or silos where grains and similar items are stored in a specific manner to prevent spoilage, especially during disasters, wars, and their effects on production and agriculture. They serve as a broad local storehouse from which everyone can take according to their needs, and sometimes they are opened for animals and birds as a form of charity for the sick and the deceased.